Crews gain ground on key Idaho wildfires

BOISE, Idaho — Wildfire managers say fire crews continue to gain the upper hand against two blazes burning in Idaho’s southern half.

Officials expect to have the Avelene Fire burning northeast of Boise fully contained by Friday night. The fire was 70 percent contained Thursday night and mop-up efforts will resume Friday.

The fire has burned 403 acres in an area 25 miles northeast of Boise. Authorities have also rescinded the voluntary evacuation order for people living near the fire perimeter.

And managers predict crews will have the C Fire burning 12 miles east of Donnelly contained Saturday.

Elsewhere, fire operations at the Kinyon Road Fire near Castleford are being scaled back. To date, the fire is the biggest in the state, burning more than 367 square miles of sagebrush and grass.